From: Fort Worth, Texas. LA Opera: Annina in La Traviata (2014, debut); Opera Gossip in The Ghosts of Versailles (2015); Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro (2015); several roles in Hercules vs. Vampires (2015); soloist in Erwin Schrott concert (2015); Papagena in The Magic Flute (2016). She is an alumna of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program.
Peruvian- and Mexican-American soprano Vanessa Becerra is a recent graduate of LA Opera’s prestigious Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program, praised for her “bold and bright” singing (Opera News), “full, beautifully focused” instrument (Wall Street Journal) and “charismatic and eloquent” presence (San Francisco Chronicle).
In the 2019/20 season, Vanessa made her Kennedy Center debut with Washington National Opera as Zerlina in Don Giovanni, as well as her debut with Houston Grand Opera as La Mujer in the world premiere of El Milagro del Recuerdo, receiving respective accolades for her “clarion soprano,” “lithe sound,” and “crystal-clear” tone. The previous season Ms. Becerra enjoyed a hugely successful summer debuting Maria in Francesca Zambello’s production of West Side Story at the Glimmerglass Festival leading to a string of reprisals at Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Atlanta Opera, and furthermore made her international debut in the role with the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra in Latvia.
Also in the 2018/19 season, Ms. Becerra joined the roster of the Metropolitan Opera and returned to Opera Omaha for her highly acclaimed portrayal of Lise in Philip Glass’s Les enfants terribles. Due to COVID-19 several engagements have been cancelled including her homecoming performances as Adele in Die Fledermaus with Fort Worth Opera, her role debut as Rosina in The Barber of Seville with Amarillo Opera, and another heroine debut as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro with Opera Omaha. As of now, Ms. Becerra can look forward to her role and house debut as Susanna with Virginia Opera in the coming spring.
The 2017/18 season saw numerous debuts for Ms. Becerra with exciting companies such as the LA Philharmonic under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel (Papagena in The Magic Flute), San Francisco Symphony with Michael Tilson Thomas (Paquettein Candide), Lyric Opera of Chicago (Miss Lightfoot in Fellow Travelers), Opera Delaware and Baltimore Concert Opera (Sophie in Werther), Opera Omaha (Glauce in Medea), and Atlanta Opera (Johanna in Sweeney Todd). Following her debut with Opera San Jose as Musetta in La Bohème she returned as the title role in Alma Deutscher's celebrated Cinderella with Jane Glover on the podium (currently distributed via Sony Classical on DVD). For her performance Operawire stated, "Soprano Vanessa Becerra sings Cinderella with vivacious, ardent and luminous voice, coasting through the various musical moods the young composer has set for her with 'elan' and great warmth."
During her time with LA Opera, appearances included Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro, Papagena in The Magic Flute, Annina in La Traviata, Gossip 2 in the Grammy Award-winning recording of The Ghosts of Versailles (all with maestro James Conlon), and in concert as a featured soloist with bass-baritone Erwin Schrott. Ms. Becerra enjoys a long relationship with the Glimmerglass Festival where in 2017 she returned as a guest artist to portray Laurey in Oklahoma! receiving praise for her “silken soprano” and “lilting radiance.” This followed her two summers in their young artist program where she portrayed Musetta in La Bohème (“a scene-stealing minx with a glorious soprano voice”), and Pamina in their Young Artist Performance of The Magic Flute.
Ms. Becerra’s professional debut came in 2014 with Fort Worth Opera in the world premiere of With Blood, With Ink. She “brought passionate theatrical intensity to Young Juana” (Wall Street Journal) and her “sunny, youthfully appealing soprano created an irresistible characterization” (Opera News). Shortly following her debut, Ms. Becerra received her master’s degree from the Boston Conservatory, which invited her as a featured alumna to perform in their 150th Anniversary Gala at Boston’s renowned Symphony Hall.
Other training programs include the Wolf Trap Opera Company, Des Moines Metro Opera, and Seagle Music Colony. She received her bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University as a Nordan Full-Tuition Scholarship recipient and is a proud graduate of the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts. Ms. Becerra is passionate about volunteer service and has built a network of serving those in need in Houston, Texas; Silver Spring, Maryland; New York City; Los Angeles; and her hometown of Fort Worth, Texas.
Learn more at VanessaBecerra.com.
